Billet-buckle.



No. 640,795. Patented Ian. 9, I900.

- 0. McMlLLAN.

. BILLET BUCKLE.

(Application filed. Aug. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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j fianca/aMcMZZa/L, v I B Y a; I WW? UNITED STATES" ATENT DUNCAN MCMILLAN, OF NEWARK, NEIV JERSEY.

BILLET-BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,795, dated January 9, 1900.

Application filed August 17, 1899.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DUNCAN MOMILLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Billet-B uckles,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to metal fastenings for harnesses and the like; and it consists, primarily, in improving that type of buckles known as billet-buckles.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective means whereby the end of a strap or the like maybe provided with a ring for which may be substituted a snap-hook or other well-known fastening of a like nature, said substitution being effected very simply and expeditiously.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modification, partly in section.

A is a strap at the end of which the billetbuckle may be carried. The billet-buckle comprises a frame of suitable outline, having side bars B B connected at each end and at an intermediate point, as at O. In Figs. 1 and 2 the part 0 may form a bearing for a tongue D.

E is the bill of a hook formed at the end of the buckle, which is spaced apart from the floor F to a desired distance, preferably substantially the thickness of the end of the strap A. On each side B B is formed a cheekpiece G, serving the useful function of preventing the lateral displacement of the strap when the parts are in an operative position. 11 is a snap-hook having the usual loop H at one end thereof.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 in place of a pivoted tongue, such as D, there is shown a rigid tongue I and in place of the snap-hook H there is shown a ring J. Otherwise the parts are substantially similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The tongue carried by the buckle is adapted to pass through a hole in the strap A, as shown, and thus prevent the longitudinal movement of the strap independent of the buckle.

Operation: While a direct pull on the strap when the parts are assembled will not have a tendency to remove the end of the strap Serial No. 727,496. (No model.)

from underneath the bill E, nevertheless the end of the strap may be thus removed simply and expeditiously by bending the strap out of its natural line of draft and by grasping it between the fingers, so as to double it a sufficient extent to free the hook-bill E. When this is done, the snap-hook H may be entirely removed from the billet-buckle and a ring, such as J, substituted in place thereof, where upon the end of the strap is inserted underneath the bill E, so as to assume practically the position indicated in the drawings, in which position the snap-hook or the ring cannot be accidentally detached and in which position it will, in fact, be securely held until such time as it is desired to detach the same. In use the strap cannot be displaced laterally, because of the cheek-pieces G, which bear on opposite sides of the same.

Obviously what is referred to as the floor F may be ashort floor adjacent the hooked end of the billet-buckle of such a length as to suitably support the end of the strap. In many other respects the shape and proportions of the buckle may be varied to suit the desired demands. For example, if in case the strap is wider than that shown the side bars of the frame should be spaced apart a correspondtrue in the case of a narrower strap. In the drawings I have shownhow a rigid tongue,

sometimes termed a spud-tongue, may be readily substituted in place of the hinged tongue, since substantially the same ends will be gained by the use thereof. ing the bill of the hook E it is obvious that the cheek-pieces may be longer, and thus give a greater lateral support to the strap. These and other changes I contemplate as within the spirit and scope of the invention, and accordingly I do not wish to haveit understood that I limit myself to the specific thing shown in either one of the figures of the drawings.

What I claim is-- 1. In a billet-buckle, a door, disconnected cheek-pieces at opposite sides thereof, a hook at one end of the buckle to engage a looped device, the space underneath the bill of the hook being substantiallyless than the combined thickness of the looped device and the strap to be employed, so that the latter may hold the looped device at the forward end of By taperthe 1100}: by engaging"- the rear of said loop, hook being substantially less than the com and means for holding said strap. billed thickness of loop and strap, the end of 16 2. In combination, a billet-buckle compristhe strap bearing against the rear side of the ing a. floor, disconnected check-pieces at oploop, and means for holding; said strap.

5 posits sides thereof, a hook at one end of the DUN CAN MOMILLAN.

buckle, a looped device carried by said hook, Witnesses: a strap, the end of which is projected into R. C. MITCHELL,

the hook, the space underneath the bill of the MARION G. GOLD. 

